The city of Port Washington has been at the center of the ongoing heated debate about A.I. data centers and their impact. Mayor Ted Neitzke sits down with WTMJ’s Libby Collins to discuss his path to leading the city and his vision for Port Washington. He also breaks down the entire story of how Port Washington was chosen as the site for a data center, and addresses concerns and criticism. It’s all ahead on this edition of WTMJ Conversations! Listen in the player below.
A partial transcript is provided courtesy of eCourt Reporters.
LIBBY COLLINS: Well, that brings us to what you’ve been in the news for quite a bit lately, and that’s data centers. How did all that come about? Who approached whom?
TED NEITZKE: Well, that’s a great question. So, historically, what happened was — I tell this story a lot — I was driving, actually, down to Milwaukee for work, I get a phone call from the Milwaukee Seven director, and he says, listen, we have been quietly acquiring properties on the north side of your city in the Town of Port Washington. We are doing land agreements with people because we are trying to attract technological manufacturing. And he was like, what do you think of that?
And I said, actually, it’s part of our strategic plan.
In the 1960s, they identified Northern Port Washington for annexation to build out industry along the interstate. And as that began to grow and build out there, you know, that’s where Port Washington would put more industry.
LIBBY COLLINS: And you’ve been mayor now for five years. As we said, a lot of people in Port Washington are not happy with the situation right now. Do you intend to run again? And if you do, do you think you’d get re-elected?
TED NEITZKE: So, my next election is in a year-and-a-half, and I honestly don’t know. I mean, I had a punch list of things I wanted to do as mayor. I never really intended to be mayor for my whole life. I was kind of — I was always kind of annoyed by people who stay in government for a really long time. I never really saw myself past two, maybe three terms. Right now, I’m still having fun. It’s a new pressure, and we’re facing, like I said, Port Washington is the epicenter for a whole regional, statewide debate and discussion. You know, I learned a long time ago you can’t shake hands with a clenched fist, and I’m just going to continue to work to build people’s awareness and make sure they understand what’s going on, be patient through the process, and ask others to do the same.
